Sepp Maier Urges Manuel Neuer to Retire Following New Injury: “Let it be, Manu!

“Lass es sein, Manu!”

“Lass es sein, Manu! Du hast dem Fußball ungublich viel gegeben, du hast alles gewonnen und musst niemandem mehr etwas beweisen,” said Sepp Maier, urging Manuel Neuer to finally end his playing career.

Foot Injury in Mainz

The appeal from the 1974 World Cup winner follows yet another physical setback for the veteran goalkeeper. Neuer sustained a partial tendon tear in his right foot during Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory away against FSV Mainz 05, as reported by n-tv.de and SPORT1.

The club has not yet released a definitive recovery timeline for the 40-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign. Neuer had announced in the summer that this season would likely be his last as a professional, though he had left a tiny back door open, which Maier stated he should now close definitively.

The Wear and Tear of a Long Career

Maier emphasized that even an extraordinary athlete cannot outrun physical limits. In comments reported by SPORT1, the 82-year-old former Bayern goalkeeper noted that Neuer revolutionized the position over decades at the top level, but the body eventually demands a halt. Maier stated that a player cannot constantly outwit his own physical frame and expressed that the time to stop arrives for everyone.

Criticism of the World Cup Comeback

Reflecting on international duty, Maier called Neuer’s return to the German national team for the tournament in North America a mistake. n-tv.de reported that Maier viewed the physical and mental demands of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada as an excessive burden for a player dealing with recurring injuries at age 40.

Maier added that when someone has recurring injury problems at age 40, they must carefully consider whether to subject their body to that again, noting that sometimes it is better to draw a line in time rather than putting one’s health at risk.

Decision Time in Munich

Despite advising retirement, Maier insisted that a healthy Neuer still deserves to play. However, SPORT1 noted that Maier believes Bayern Munich must now reach a clear decision regarding whether designated successor Jonas Urbig should step into the number-one role immediately.

Just three weeks prior, Maier had defended Neuer against criticism following a mistake that allowed the fastest goal in Bundesliga history against FC Augsburg, dismissing the fuss over his age as nonsense and stating that there are good or bad goalkeepers rather than old ones, while describing the criticism and discussion as typically German.

Questions About Manuel Neuer's Injury and Future

What specific injury did Manuel Neuer suffer in Mainz?

Neuer suffered a partial tendon tear in his right foot during Bayern Munich’s 2-1 away win against FSV Mainz 05.

What did Sepp Maier say about Neuer’s future?

Maier publicly advised Neuer to end his career at the conclusion of the season, stating that he has nothing left to prove to the football world.

How old is Manuel Neuer, and when does his contract expire?

Neuer is 40 years old, and his current contract with Bayern Munich runs through the end of the season.

More on this story: Dietmar Hamann urges FC Bayern to rest Manuel Neuer after injury · Manuel Neuer sustains foot injury during Bayern match in Mainz

More on Manuel Neuer: Manuel Neuer Suffers Partial Foot Tendon Tear, N-Tv.de Reports Two-Month Absence